A product’s technical features need to be in compliance with technical regulations that define safety and health requirements. Because each country has unique needs and circumstances, technical regulations could never be valid for the whole world. But different norms and different ways of applying them also mean high costs! Business needs to study and understand the rules, tailor the merchandise accordingly, and fulfil complex procedures to prove compliance. We in UNECE believe that exporting a product should not be like navigating a complicated maze! This is why we encourage countries to share concerns and best practice. Our aim is better and convergent regulations and minimum barriers to trade.

Recommendations:

UNECE recommendations promote regulatory cooperation in:

• Metrology
• Standards and Norms
• Conformity assessment
• Market surveillance

Group of experts:

Under the auspices of the WP. 6, two groups of experts actively work to promote regulatory cooperation:

• The ad hoc team of specialists on STandardization And Regulatory Techniques (START Team) encourages regulatory cooperation and approximation in specific sectors, on the basis of Recommendation L. Several sectoral Initiatives are underway:
  
  
  Telecom (SIT)
  Earth-Moving Machinery (SIEMM)
  Equipment for Explosive Environments (SIEEE)
  Pipeline Safety (SIPS)
• The Advisory Group on Market Surveillance (MARS Group) is a forum to discuss best practice in market surveillance, including how to counter the proliferation of sub-standard and counterfeit goods on national and regional markets.